"It remains to be seen whether Americans can stir themselves out of their materialistic stupor..."

[Sapphire Blue]

Column: Edwards is the most democratic candidate of all
By Stephen Dick
THE HERALD BULLETIN (ANDERSON, Ind.)

ANDERSON, Ind. —

John Edwards is the only Democratic presidential candidate who is talking like a Democrat. He talks about labor, health care and poverty, issues that have fallen well below the political radar for the last 30 years.

(snip)

In 2005, however, poverty was once again front and center in the wake of Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans. As it was in the 1960s, Americans were aghast at seeing two Americas, the rich and everyone else as Edwards likes to say.

Now he’s talking about it again. He’s seeing a nation where the rich are amassing great wealth while everyone struggles, where skyrocketing health care costs bankrupt families, where the have nots are out of the media glare that concentrates on the travails of rich young actresses and where labor unions are marginalized by a global economy slashing and burning its way to profit.

This latter issue is important to Edwards. He’s been addressing the major unions. In an article in the August In These Times, he said, “If we want to strengthen and grow the middle class in this country, if we want to grow America economically, if we want to see millions of people lifted out of poverty, the organized labor movement is a critical component of that. That’s the reason that wherever I am, I talk about making it easier to organize in the work place....”

Unions are declining at a fast rate. Many states are passing right-to-work laws that will further weaken unions. The latest to test that water is Michigan, home of the United Auto Workers, the last bastion, one would think, of union strength. Only 12 percent of America’s work force is unionized compared to 35 percent a generation ago. Without that organizational capacity, workers are left to fend for themselves in a predatory economic environment that will chew them up and spit them out.

(snip)

It remains to be seen whether Americans can stir themselves out of their materialistic stupor and embrace the serious moral and political issues that arise from severe economic inequality.

So far Edwards is saying the right stuff. I hope he stays on message and doesn’t cave into campaign pressure, which will surely be there, to take a hard right turn to keep up with Clinton and Obama.


http://www.alliednews.com:80/statenews/cnhinsall_story_213122924.html

Transformational Change For America And The World - JOHN EDWARDS for PRESIDENT 2008

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
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:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

A true revolution of values

Moral Leadership - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Silence is Betrayal - JOHN EDWARDS 08

"I'm proposing we set a national goal of eliminating poverty in the next 30 years." - JOHN EDWARDS 08

"If you call wanting to give everybody a chance 'class warfare,' then so be it. That's what I'm for." - JOHN EDWARDS 08

"Every time another radical Republican running for president speaks, the American people are reminded of how out of touch with economic reality they are." - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Building One America Starts in New Orleans - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Ending Poverty in America - edited by Senator John Edwards

[Zensea]

1. I just said that to someone yesterday

the part about how Edwards is the only Democrat talking like a Democrat.
It is a bit of an overstatement though.
Kucinich is also.
I was thinking of it in primarily economic terms of old school Democratic values.

[rwheeler31]

4. He is a real dem.

[Mythsaje]

2. We have to give him the support we can...

What he says makes a lot of sense and it HAS to be said.

And sometimes it needs to be changed up and expressed differently. But the message has to get out.

[WCGreen]

3. All the other candidate beside Kucinich and Edwards are giving

warmed over platitudes to the base...

We are truly facing a point a no return for the US...

If we want to see America a second class power in out life times, then vote for any body but Kucinich and Edwards...

These two guys, no matter what is said about their past, are both talking to and speaking out about workers rights, comprehensive national health insurance and real tax reform...

Everyone else seems to be more concerned about not appearing to be anti-rich...

K&R

[Snarkoleptic]

5. The materialistic stupor is now morphing into a credit crunch hangover.

The subprime meltdown is spilling over into soooo many other areas-
Commercial RE is in the toilet as lenders layoff and collapse, leading to a glut in office space.
Borrowers have ARM resets coming to a head in November of this year.
When the ARM's reset, their rates will increase as much as 200 basis points (IE from 7% to 9% interest...overnight).
A great number of mortgage industry people are out of work and taking McJobs with huge pay cuts.
Many of the major Wall St. players are now trading at 'near junk' levels.
All of this serves to further slow the velocity of money.

[OHdem10]

6. Agree--Edwards is the real democrat.

[ninkasi]

7. I strongly support Edwards

I think he'd make a good president. Of course, after the criminal now squatting in our WH, anybody would be a relief.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Keep talking like this, Mr. Edwards....

I like what I'm hearing...

Keep it coming!

We stand on the cusp of tomorrow...

Which way will we go?

The high road, for one America?

Or the low road, for the loss of our country?

K&R

[jazzjunkysue]

9. I was in the audience for "Silence is Betrayal". John was inspirational.

And totally sincere. He was lovely. I'd like to see the other candidates hold hands with a huge congregation and sing together. I was already a fan, but that did it for me.

You're right: Edwards is the only dem. Kucinich is good, but Edwards is acting like a president.

[AwakeAtLast]

10. Interesting article from Mike Pence area

I happen to live in the area. Somehow I missed this article. Quite frankly I'm flabbergasted to read this in the Anderson paper. If you read it every day, the comments would give you a glimpse into red state, fundie repukes in all their glory.

Thanks for linking - I will keep a closer eye out for more! :hi: